Egypt Edges toward Free Elections

Egyptians voted in overwhelming numbers to approve a set of constitutional amendments, setting the stage for Egypt's first truly contested parliamentary and presidential elections in decades.

21 March, 2011

Constitutional reform is the first step Egypt has taken toward free and fair government elections since the resignation of Hosni Mubarak. "Saturday's historic referendum on the amendments saw millions of enthusiastic Egyptians wait patiently for hours to cast ballots in what for almost everyone was a novelty—a vote in which the result wasn't effectively predetermined. The largely peaceful and fraud-free vote was a marked contrast to past elections and a glimpse of how much has changed in Egypt in the weeks since President Mubarak stepped down amid widespread unrest, ending decades of single-party, autocratic rule."